In interviews on socialbites.ca, Alexander Kozhevnikov, a two-time Olympic champion, discussed the National Hockey League’s decision to allow its players to participate in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Games. He suggested that the Russian team’s prospects in the Olympic tournament have improved as a result.
“I approach this decision with a steady view. It gives them a real chance to reach the Games. For Canada, having Russian players matters because the Olympics would feel incomplete without Russia. The same sentiment extends to the United States”, Kozhevnikov noted.
The last two Winter Olympics featured no players from the NHL’s premier league. In 2018, the Russian Olympic team claimed gold in Pyeongchang, while four years later the Russians were defeated by Finland in the final. Prior to that, NHL athletes participated in five Olympic tournaments from 1998 through 2014. At the Sochi Games in 2014, which marked the most recent Olympic event with NHL players, Canada emerged victorious by defeating Sweden in the final, while Finland earned bronze. Russia’s run ended in the quarterfinals in that edition.
Earlier, Nikita Kucherov faced boos from the crowd at the NHL All-Star Game.